Rumours of an approach from Real Madrid for Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino is enough strike fear through any Spurs supporter but the Argentinean boss it believes it is simply helping his standing in relation to his players.

Dele Alli cited his coach’s influence when his new six-year contract was announced earlier this week, describing him as a ‘big part’ of his decision and that he can’t think of a better place than under this coaching staff.

The England international said: “It was a big part of it [Pochettino being the manger] the club is amazing, the players as well, it’s a special bunch of boys here, everyone gets on really well, but Poch is the one we’re working with all the time, it’s his philosophy, that is why we love playing here so when I think about signing Poch plays a big part of that.”

The 46-year-old Pochettino was quick to play down his role in Alli’s extension but suggested the Los Blancos rumours aren’t always as unsettling as they seem and that his players might have confidence he will remain at the club.

He said: “It’s like our girlfriend or our wife, no? Because we are so handsome and we are walking down the street in London and she is so proud about you because another woman looks at you. And your wife is so happy to be with you and feels in love with you.

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“No one looks at you, you wife says ‘ uh maybe he is better’, understand the metaphor.

“They are confident of course but they are not attached to me only, it is about the club. If I believe that Dele Alli is only going to sign or a different player is only going to sign a new contract because of me it is a bad feeling or I am so wrong in my head.”

Pochettino, who made his commitment to Spurs clear on Friday in an impassioned response on Friday, has become a fixture at Hotspur Way since he joined four and a half years ago and is the face of his philosophy and this generation of the club.

However, the ex-Southampton boss was forthright in reaffirming that Spurs as a club remains top of the hierarchy above any coach or player.

He said: “For me, the most important – the club needs to be always above the manager, the player. You need to feel that you are going to play of course and you love your manager or you love your chairman but it is because I want to play for Tottenham.

“If not, it is difficult after to achieve big things because you need to play for something that is much bigger than a person, something you cannot touch. You don’t play for a manager or the chairman, you play for someone that means Tottenham, for the people.

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“Of course it always nice to hear the players say one of the reasons is the manager, one of the reasons is the chairman, one of the reasons is the new stadium, so exciting. One of the reason I wanted rather to listen – I want to play for Tottenham to make history, to touch the glory with this club with this badge. That for me, you feel proud because of course your player care about you and the people. But I repeat again, the responsibility is that the player wanted to play for the glory of the club and make history here. If not, it is difficult.

“‘Now I am so happy with my manager and I am going to give my best’ but there are going to be days we won’t be happy because we are human. Someday maybe we will be disappointed with each other, that is normal in a relationship. ‘Now I won’t play because I am not happy with the manager’ and you need to have some support, it is more important that motivates you.”

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